Electronic digital governor and method of assembly

Abstract

An electronic digital governor assembly includes a case, a printed circuit board housed within said case, the printed circuit board having control circuitry configured for controlling at least one parameter of an energy production device, and a user interface including a digital display for displaying a value of the at least one parameter and at least one button for selectively adjusting the value.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic digital governor assembly, comprising:
 a case; 
 a polycarbonate plate; 
 a gasket intermediate said case and said polycarbonate plate; 
 a keypad containing at least one button; 
 a printed circuit board housed within said case, said printed circuit board having control circuitry configured for controlling at least one parameter of an energy production device; and 
 a user interface including a digital display for displaying a value of said at least one parameter and said at least one button for selectively adjusting said value; 
 wherein said polycarbonate plate, said keypad and said printed circuit board define a substantially air-tight and moisture-tight cavity; and 
 wherein said digital display is contained within said cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said digital display is a liquid crystal display. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said polycarbonate plate includes a plurality of crush zones, said crush zones being deformable from a first position in which a portion of said printed circuit board is spaced from a raised land formed on said case, to a second position in which said portion of said printed circuit board is in direct contact with said raised land. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said case includes a plurality of fins for dissipating heat generated during operation of said governor. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a terminal block electrically connected to said circuit board, said terminal block having a plurality of electrical terminals. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor in communication with said cavity and configured to detect a temperature with said cavity; and 
 at least one resistor in communication with said cavity and being operable to provide heat to said cavity in dependence upon a said detected temperature within said cavity. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic digital governor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said assembly is engine compartment mountable. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic digital governor, comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity; 
 a plate having a transparent window disposed within said cavity; 
 a printed circuit board having a microprocessor and control circuitry configured to control at least one operating parameter of an energy production device; and 
 a user interface including a digital display for displaying a value of said at least one operating parameter and at least one button for selectively adjusting said value, said digital display being aligned with said window; 
 wherein said plate includes a plurality of crush zones, said crush zones being deformable from a first position in which a portion of said printed circuit board is spaced from a raised land formed on said housing, to a second position in which said portion of said printed circuit board is in direct contact with said raised land. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic digital governor of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said control circuitry continuously monitors said at least one operating parameter of said energy production device; and 
 said digital display displays said at least one parameter in real time. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic digital governor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said at least one operating parameter is one of speed, current to actuator and percent throttle. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic digital governor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said at least one operating parameter is one of gain, stability and deadtime. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic digital governor of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said digital display is a liquid crystal display. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic digital governor of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said control circuitry includes a single PID control loop that incorporates starting fuel and speed control. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic digital governor wherein:
 said digital display includes a multi-function graph configured to display one of throttle percent and difference in commanded and actual speed. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of manufacturing an electronic digital governor, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a case defining a cavity; 
 positioning a plate within said cavity, said plate having a transparent window; 
 positioning a digital display within said window; 
 positioning a keypad having an integral gasket into registration with said plate; 
 positioning a printed circuit board having control circuitry within said cavity; and 
 securing said printed circuit board to said case to provide a substantially air-tight and moisture-tight seal around said digital display. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said plate includes a plurality of yield zones, said yield zones being collapsible from a first position in which a portion of said printed circuit board is spaced from a raised land formed on said case, to a second position in which said portion of said printed circuit board is in direct contact with said raised land when said printed circuit board is secured to said case. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 depositing a potting compound within said cavity to substantially seal said plate, display, keypad and circuit board within said cavity and to provide a generally smooth rear surface. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 positioning a temperature sensor and a resistor on said circuit board adjacent said digital display.